{"id":44176,"date":"2024-11-20T06:00:36","date_gmt":"2024-11-20T04:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\/"},"modified":"2025-03-20T06:39:41","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T04:39:41","slug":"vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\/","title":{"rendered":"VRT Pitt Primary expands Grade R capacity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>VRT Pitt Primary School in Swellendam is proud to announce the addition of two new classrooms for Grade R learners, a milestone that doubles the school\u2019s capacity for early education. This expansion will significantly improve learning conditions for young children from the Swellendam and Railton communities, addressing long-standing overcrowding concerns and fostering a more nurturing educational environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The classrooms were officially handed over during a community event attended by representatives from the Department of Basic Education (DBE), the school governing body, principals, and many enthusiastic parents. Previously, classes held as many as 45 students, which compromised the quality of instruction and added challenges to classroom management. With this expansion, class sizes will average around 27, allowing for more individualised attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis project directly addresses the critical need for enhanced educational facilities in our community,\u201d said Jasan Johnson, social performance coordinator at Excelsior Wind Energy Facility, a majority-owned subsidiary of ENGIE. \u201cOur partnership with VRT Pitt Primary is a meaningful step towards the socio-economic upliftment of the community as investing in education is truly an investment in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The development is part of a phased, year-long initiative funded by Excelsior Wind Energy Facility in close partnership with the DBE, who have supplied furniture, learning materials, and additional teaching staff. The project includes upgraded sanitation facilities, also funded by Excelsior, that are scheduled for completion by the first quarter of next year to accommodate the growing student population and ensure adequate resources for all learners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Isaac Langeveldt, principal of VRT Pitt Primary School, shared his gratitude, stating, \u201cWith these new classrooms, we\u2019re creating a safe, engaging environment that relieves the pressure on our existing infrastructure. By reducing classroom sizes, we\u2019re empowering our teachers to deliver quality education and providing our learners with the space they need to thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To ensure the sustainability of the new facilities, Excelsior Wind Energy Facility has implemented a comprehensive maintenance plan. A dedicated safety team will conduct quarterly inspections, addressing any issues promptly in line with a detailed service-level agreement. In line with ENGIE\u2019s global sustainability goals, this proactive approach ensures the longevity and safety of the new infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The addition of these classrooms marks an exciting chapter for VRT Pitt Primary School, bringing tangible benefits to students and educators alike. This initiative reaffirms the role of Excelsior and ENGIE in building a brighter future for the community, one that supports accessible, high-quality education from the earliest stages.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>VRT Pitt Primary School in Swellendam is proud to announce the addition of two new classrooms for Grade R learners, a milestone that doubles the school\u2019s capacity for early education. This expansion will significantly improve learning conditions for<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":44178,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"","_yoast_wpseo_inclusive_language_score":"","_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_crsspst_to_novanewscoza":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozabloemnewsexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozacityvision":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozadistrictmailhelderberg":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaeikestadnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakomani-karoo":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakougaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozamthathaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozanoordkaapbulletin":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapaarlpost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeoplespost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaswartlandgazette":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozatygerburger":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaudexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavistanews":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavrystaatkroon":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweskusnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweslander":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaworcesterstandard":false,"_EventAllDay":"","_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":"","_EventShowMapLink":"","_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":"","_EventVenueID":"","_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":"","_VenueShowMapLink":"","_application":"","_batch_id":"","_company_name":"","_company_tagline":"","_company_twitter":"","_company_video":"","_company_website":"","_custom_id":"357c450b-3a55-44c5-a203-06ac26d04818","_EventDuration":"","_EventOrigin":"","_EventTimezoneAbbr":"","_featured":"","_filled":"","_job_expires":"","_job_location":"","_media_credit":"","_media_credit_url":"","_menu_item_menu_item_parent":"","_menu_item_object":"","_menu_item_object_id":"","_menu_item_target":"","_menu_item_type":"","_menu_item_url":"","_menu_item_xfn":"","_navis_media_can_distribute":"","_navis_media_credit_org":"","_OrganizerOrigin":"","_provider":"","_pum_built_in":"","_pum_default_theme":"","_pum_form_conversion_count":"","_remote_id":"","_remote_name":"","_remote_position":"","_report_frequency":"","_report_reference_dates":"","_send_attempts":"","_site_id":"","_sitemap_exclude":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","_sitemap_priority":"","_source_url":"","_subscription_period":"","_subscription_period_interval":"","_subscription_price":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":"","_template_type":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_tribe_aggregator_allow_multiple_organizers":"","_tribe_aggregator_content_type":"","_tribe_aggregator_file":"","_tribe_aggregator_finalized":"","_tribe_aggregator_hash":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_id":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_interactive":"","_tribe_aggregator_origin":"","_tribe_aggregator_post_status":"","_tribe_aggregator_preview":"","_tribe_aggregator_source_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_type":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_hide_attendees_list":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":"","_tribe_ticket_version":"","_type":"","_VenueOrigin":"","_wp_attachment_context":"","_wp_attachment_image_alt":"","_wp_font_face_file":"","_wp_old_date":"","_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_block-catalog":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_job_listing_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_nova_retailer":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_publication":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_tribe_events_cat":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-duration":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-rating":"","_menu_item_classes":[],"_tribe_modified_fields":[],"_wp_attachment_backup_sizes":[],"_wp_suggested_privacy_policy_content":[],"_yoast_post_redirect_info":[],"_yoast_wpseo_video_meta":[],"activation_date":"","archive_insertion_is_repeating":"","archive_insertion_posts_count":"","article_feature_media":"","article_feature_type":"","article_main_image_caption":"","article_media_icon":"","article_template":"","author_byline":"","background_color":"","block_editor":"","byline":"","cmplz_hide_cookiebanner":"","competition_end_date":"","contact_advertise_email":"","contact_advertise_phone":"","contact_editorial_email":"","contact_general_email":"","contact_general_phone":"","contact_office_hours":"","contact_physical_address":"","enabled":"","featured_image_custom_caption":"","featured_video_url":"","fields":"","font_body":"","font_header":"","frequency":"","headline":"","hide_border":"","icon":"","is_wp_suggestion":"","issuu_download_url":"","issuu_embed_url":"","language_version_url":"","large_border":"","name":"","nm_contact_name":"","nm_contact_number":"","nm_date_lost":"","no_overlay_background":"","node-url":"","obituary_born_date":"","obituary_died_date":"","obituary_memoriam_text":"","origin":"","overlay_color":"","overlay_opacity":"","overlay_size":"","placement":"","plural_label":"","post_author":"","post_id":"","post_language":"en","secret-key":"","sponsored_utm_campaign":"","sponsored_utm_content":"","sponsored_utm_medium":"","sponsored_utm_source":"","sponsored_utm_term":"","start_date":"","utm_suppression":"","video_embed_url":"","wp_pattern_sync_status":"","data_version":[],"enclosure":[],"pongrass_image":[],"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_content_restriction_is_exempt":false,"scaip_prevent_shortcode_addition":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"publication":[],"class_list":["post-44176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.8 (Yoast SEO v27.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>VRT Pitt Primary expands Grade R capacity | Hermanus Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"VRT Pitt Primary expands Grade R capacity\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"VRT Pitt Primary School in Swellendam is proud to announce the addition of two new classrooms for Grade R learners, a milestone that doubles the school\u2019s capacity for early education. This expansion will significantly improve learning conditions for\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Hermanus Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/hermanustimes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-11-20T04:00:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-03-20T04:39:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2d00db3344f74754b15b5a176490c9bd.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"853\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Hermanus Times\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@hermanustimes\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@hermanustimes\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Hermanus Times\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Hermanus Times\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/abcd9acda33cdec0bc660a6350624833\"},\"headline\":\"VRT Pitt Primary expands Grade R capacity\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-11-20T04:00:36+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-20T04:39:41+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":411,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/2d00db3344f74754b15b5a176490c9bd.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\\\/#respond\"]}],\"copyrightYear\":\"2024\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\\\/\",\"name\":\"VRT Pitt Primary expands Grade R capacity | Hermanus Times\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/2d00db3344f74754b15b5a176490c9bd.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-11-20T04:00:36+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-20T04:39:41+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/2d00db3344f74754b15b5a176490c9bd.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/2d00db3344f74754b15b5a176490c9bd.jpg\",\"width\":1280,\"height\":853,\"caption\":\"The classrooms were officially handed over during a community event attended by representatives from the Department of Basic Education (DBE), the school governing body, principals, and many enthusiastic parents.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"News\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/news\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"VRT Pitt Primary expands Grade R capacity\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/\",\"name\":\"Hermanus Times\",\"description\":\"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Hermanus Times\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/hermanus-times-site-icon.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/hermanus-times-site-icon.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"Hermanus Times\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/hermanustimes\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/hermanustimes\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/hermanus-times\\\/\"],\"description\":\"Hermanus Times is the oldest newspaper in the region and the heartbeat of the Overberg. Since its first edition in 1949 the then-named Hermanus News has grown with local residents and made its mark as a trusted source in the local, social, economic and political fields. With more than 500 distribution points in the circulation area, this free weekly newspaper is available in Hermanus, Kleinmond, Betty\u2019s Bay, Pringle Bay, Grabouw, Villiersdorp, Bot River, Greyton, Myddleton, Tesselaarsdal, Riviersonderend, Caledon, Napier, Bredasdorp, Elim, Gansbaai, Pearly Beach and Stanford. The bilingual readership consists of people from all races and age groups, and serves the LSM market from 1 to 10.\",\"email\":\"hermanustimes@novusmedia.co.za\",\"telephone\":\"+27283123717\",\"legalName\":\"Novus Media (Pty) Ltd\",\"foundingDate\":\"2025-01-01\",\"vatID\":\"4100318916\",\"taxID\":\"2000\\\/018234\\\/07\",\"numberOfEmployees\":{\"@type\":\"QuantitativeValue\",\"minValue\":\"51\",\"maxValue\":\"200\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/abcd9acda33cdec0bc660a6350624833\",\"name\":\"Hermanus Times\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/605c452cafb9158f893d9f37c5a74a6e9bcf73ff8fbb89bd33507380771ea99d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/605c452cafb9158f893d9f37c5a74a6e9bcf73ff8fbb89bd33507380771ea99d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/605c452cafb9158f893d9f37c5a74a6e9bcf73ff8fbb89bd33507380771ea99d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Hermanus Times\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/hermanustimes\\\/author\\\/hermanustimes\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"VRT Pitt Primary expands Grade R capacity | Hermanus Times","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"VRT Pitt Primary expands Grade R capacity","og_description":"VRT Pitt Primary School in Swellendam is proud to announce the addition of two new classrooms for Grade R learners, a milestone that doubles the school\u2019s capacity for early education. This expansion will significantly improve learning conditions for","og_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\/","og_site_name":"Hermanus Times","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/hermanustimes","article_published_time":"2024-11-20T04:00:36+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-03-20T04:39:41+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1280,"height":853,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2d00db3344f74754b15b5a176490c9bd.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Hermanus Times","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@hermanustimes","twitter_site":"@hermanustimes","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Hermanus Times","Est. reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\/"},"author":{"name":"Hermanus Times","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/#\/schema\/person\/abcd9acda33cdec0bc660a6350624833"},"headline":"VRT Pitt Primary expands Grade R capacity","datePublished":"2024-11-20T04:00:36+00:00","dateModified":"2025-03-20T04:39:41+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\/"},"wordCount":411,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2d00db3344f74754b15b5a176490c9bd.jpg","articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-ZA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\/#respond"]}],"copyrightYear":"2024","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\/","name":"VRT Pitt Primary expands Grade R capacity | Hermanus Times","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2d00db3344f74754b15b5a176490c9bd.jpg","datePublished":"2024-11-20T04:00:36+00:00","dateModified":"2025-03-20T04:39:41+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-ZA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2d00db3344f74754b15b5a176490c9bd.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2d00db3344f74754b15b5a176490c9bd.jpg","width":1280,"height":853,"caption":"The classrooms were officially handed over during a community event attended by representatives from the Department of Basic Education (DBE), the school governing body, principals, and many enthusiastic parents."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/vrt-pitt-primary-expands-grade-r-capacity-20241114-2\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"VRT Pitt Primary expands Grade R capacity"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/#website","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/","name":"Hermanus Times","description":"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-ZA"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/#organization","name":"Hermanus Times","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/hermanus-times-site-icon.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/hermanus-times-site-icon.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"Hermanus Times"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/hermanustimes","https:\/\/x.com\/hermanustimes","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/hermanus-times\/"],"description":"Hermanus Times is the oldest newspaper in the region and the heartbeat of the Overberg. Since its first edition in 1949 the then-named Hermanus News has grown with local residents and made its mark as a trusted source in the local, social, economic and political fields. With more than 500 distribution points in the circulation area, this free weekly newspaper is available in Hermanus, Kleinmond, Betty\u2019s Bay, Pringle Bay, Grabouw, Villiersdorp, Bot River, Greyton, Myddleton, Tesselaarsdal, Riviersonderend, Caledon, Napier, Bredasdorp, Elim, Gansbaai, Pearly Beach and Stanford. The bilingual readership consists of people from all races and age groups, and serves the LSM market from 1 to 10.","email":"hermanustimes@novusmedia.co.za","telephone":"+27283123717","legalName":"Novus Media (Pty) Ltd","foundingDate":"2025-01-01","vatID":"4100318916","taxID":"2000\/018234\/07","numberOfEmployees":{"@type":"QuantitativeValue","minValue":"51","maxValue":"200"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/#\/schema\/person\/abcd9acda33cdec0bc660a6350624833","name":"Hermanus Times","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/605c452cafb9158f893d9f37c5a74a6e9bcf73ff8fbb89bd33507380771ea99d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/605c452cafb9158f893d9f37c5a74a6e9bcf73ff8fbb89bd33507380771ea99d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/605c452cafb9158f893d9f37c5a74a6e9bcf73ff8fbb89bd33507380771ea99d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Hermanus Times"},"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/author\/hermanustimes\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2d00db3344f74754b15b5a176490c9bd.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":46839,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/additional-class-grades-for-swellendam-farm-school-supports-a-lifetime-of-learning-20231212-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":44176,"position":0},"title":"Additional class grades for Swellendam Farm School supports a lifetime of learning","author":"Hermanus Times","date":"13 December 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"For the first time since opening its doors some 67 years ago Uitvlug Primary School, a small farm school, in Swellendam, Western Cape, was able to offer a Grade-7 class this year. Moreover, it has been announced that a further expansion will mean the 2024 academic year will kick-off with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/c92de997474648c4ac45bfcae3106078.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/c92de997474648c4ac45bfcae3106078.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/c92de997474648c4ac45bfcae3106078.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/c92de997474648c4ac45bfcae3106078.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49738,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/waldorf-has-a-new-high-school-20221115-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":44176,"position":1},"title":"Waldorf has a new high school","author":"Hermanus Times","date":"16 November 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Education in South Africa is a basic human right that is constitutionally enshrined.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/c5db4945b9d8400b81c2979440b01b73.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/c5db4945b9d8400b81c2979440b01b73.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/c5db4945b9d8400b81c2979440b01b73.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/c5db4945b9d8400b81c2979440b01b73.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/c5db4945b9d8400b81c2979440b01b73.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/c5db4945b9d8400b81c2979440b01b73.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":296498,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/speech-competition-in-the-overberg-a-huge-success\/","url_meta":{"origin":44176,"position":2},"title":"Speech competition in the Overberg a huge success","author":"Hermanus Times","date":"27 May 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"International Museum Day is celebrated annually on 18 May. Established in 1977 by the International Council of Museums (ICOM), this occasion aims to highlight the vital role museums play in cultural exchange, education and community development. Museums are far more than places where objects of historical value are preserved and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/speech1_83784.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/speech1_83784.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/speech1_83784.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/speech1_83784.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/speech1_83784.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46820,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/more-crime-fighters-deployed-20231218-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":44176,"position":3},"title":"More crime fighters deployed","author":"Hermanus Times","date":"20 December 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The Swellendam and Theewaterskloof municipal areas are now in a stronger position to combat crime after 37 peace officers (POs) \u2013 19 in Swellendam and 18 in Theewaterskloof \u2013 graduated from the PO programme.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ef2ad8b4977842aa9c974ad3af73d139.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ef2ad8b4977842aa9c974ad3af73d139.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ef2ad8b4977842aa9c974ad3af73d139.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ef2ad8b4977842aa9c974ad3af73d139.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ef2ad8b4977842aa9c974ad3af73d139.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ef2ad8b4977842aa9c974ad3af73d139.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49219,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/education-a-right-many-kids-are-denied-20230207-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":44176,"position":4},"title":"Education a right many kids are denied","author":"Hermanus Times","date":"8 February 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Education is a right and not a privilege, but for 155 children in Zwehlihle this has effectively been denied them.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":44270,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/a-new-building-for-boland-college-students-20241105-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":44176,"position":5},"title":"A new building for Boland College students","author":"Hermanus Times","date":"6 November 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Boland College Caledon Campus is dedicated to providing high-quality educational environments for its students, and that is why they recently opened a new building featuring upgraded classrooms and collaborative spaces tailored to meet the evolving n","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0845ad4d6c534adab1f982cb6a4ac261.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0845ad4d6c534adab1f982cb6a4ac261.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0845ad4d6c534adab1f982cb6a4ac261.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0845ad4d6c534adab1f982cb6a4ac261.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0845ad4d6c534adab1f982cb6a4ac261.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0845ad4d6c534adab1f982cb6a4ac261.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Hermanus Times","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44176"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44176\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44176"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=44176"},{"taxonomy":"publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/hermanustimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/publication?post=44176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}